Partial eclipse to be visible across UK on Tuesday morning - when is it and how to watch

25 October 2022, 06:54 | Updated: 25 October 2022, 06:57

A partial solar eclipse - when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun - will be visible on Tuesday morning
A partial solar eclipse - when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun - will be visible on Tuesday morning. Picture: Alamy

By Daisy Stephens

About 25 per cent of the Sun will be blocked out on Tuesday as the Moon passes between it and the Earth.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Skygazers across the UK will be able to see the phenomenon, with those in northern Scotland expected to enjoy good views.

Dr Robert Massey, of the Royal Astronomical Society, said the eclipse will cause the Moon to block the view of "some or all of the bright solar surface", and the Sun will "appear to have a bite taken out of it".

In London, the eclipse will begin at 10:08am on October 25, with the maximum eclipse occurring at 10.59am, when the Moon will cover close to 15 per cent of the Sun.

Lerwick in the Shetland Isles is expected to have a better view, with 28 per cent of the Sun obscured at mid-eclipse.

A partial solar eclipse, visible from Norfolk, in 2011
A partial solar eclipse, visible from Norfolk, in 2011. Picture: Alamy

How to watch the partial solar eclipse

  • Get two pieces of paper or card. Make a pinhole in one and hold it up (with your back to the sun), so the image of the sun can be projected onto the second piece of card, placed at least 30cm away
  • Use a small, flat mirror to reflect the sunlight into a room where you can view it on a wall or some kind of flat screen
  • Use eclipse glasses with a certified safety mark
  • Mount a pair of binoculars or telescopes on a tripod, fit a piece of card with a hole over it over the eyepiece and place another bit of card between 50cm and 1m in front of it - when you point the telescope or binoculars towards the sun the bright image should be projected onto a separate card
  • Do not look directly at the Sun, even if you're wearing sunglasses
  • Do not look at the Sun through binoculars, telescopes or a telephoto lens on an SLR camera
  • Do not look directly through the pinhole on your piece of card if using that method
  • You can also watch the live-stream of the event on the Royal Observatory Greenwich's website and YouTube channel
An image of an eclipse projected onto a piece of card using the pinhole method
An image of an eclipse projected onto a piece of card using the pinhole method. Picture: Alamy

Jake Foster, astronomer at Royal Observatory Greenwich, said: "The eclipse will be visible across the whole of the UK, as well as large parts of Europe and Central and South Asia.

"The amount of obscuration you'll see will depend on where you are on the Earth."

He added: "Even though a portion of the Sun's light will be blocked, it will not get noticeably darker in the UK during the eclipse."

The partial eclipse will end at 11:51am in London.

Dr Massey said looking directly at the Sun can cause serious damage to the eyes, even when a large fraction of the solar disc is blocked out.

It is also not wise not to look at the Sun through binoculars, telescopes or a telephoto lens on an SLR camera.

There are a number of ways you can view the solar eclipse, but make sure you don't damage your eyes
There are a number of ways you can view the solar eclipse, but make sure you don't damage your eyes. Picture: Alamy

He added: "The simplest way to watch an eclipse is to use a pinhole in a piece of card.

"An image of the Sun can then be projected on to another piece of card behind it (experiment with the distance between the two, but it will need to be at least 30 cm).

"Under no circumstances should you look through the pinhole."

Dr Massey said another popular method used to view an eclipse is the mirror projection method.

He said: "You need a small, flat mirror and a means of placing it in the sun so that it reflects the sunlight into a room where you can view it on a wall or some sort of a flat screen.

Read more: 'Legend' local radio DJ dies while presenting Suffolk morning show

Read more: Gary Lineker in fresh row for defending eco activists and hitting back at Keir Starmer's 'arrogant' claim

"You may also have eclipse glasses with a certified safety mark, and these are available from specialist astronomy suppliers.

"Provided these are not damaged in any way, you can then view the Sun through them."

Binoculars or telescopes can also be used to project the image of the Sun.

Dr Massey said: "Mount them on a tripod, and fit one piece of card with a hole in it over the eyepiece, and place another between 50 cm and a metre behind it.

"Point the telescope or binoculars towards the Sun and you should see its bright image on the separate card."

For those keen to follow the event, the Royal Observatory Greenwich will live-stream the eclipse on its website and YouTube channel.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Rapper and producer Sean 'Diddy' Combs is charged with an array of crimes including sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution.

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs ex says 'freaks offs' were integral to their relationship' as explicit texts read out in court

Gary Lineker has apologised after sharing a social media post about Zionism that included an illustration of a rat

Gary Lineker defends pro-Palestine stance amid antisemitism row: 'If you're silent on Gaza, you're complicit'

Dr Basem Naim (right) says Hamas has shared its proposed agreement 'directly' with US

Hamas confirms direct peace talks with US on ending Gaza war

Credit: @LondonFire on X

Walthamstow fire: 100 firefighters tackle giant blaze at block of flats

A woman who was sacked for getting drunk at a work event is suing the company

Woman sacked from £220k job after boozy work trip sues firm claiming 'tech bro' CEO was 'even more drunk'

Joe Don Baker has died aged 89.

James Bond star Joe Don Baker dies aged 89

Bella May Culley has been arrested on suspicion of drug smuggling.

Dad of drug smuggling teen who's facing life in prison 'considering selling house to raise legal fees'

Former US President Joe Bide in March 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Biden aides discussed wheelchair and covered up decline, new book says

Palestinians inspect the rubble of the Al-Lahham family's home, destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, on Thursday, May 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

Israeli airstrikes on Gaza kill 103 Palestinians including 22 children, health officials say

After Trump was re-elected in November 2024, the Israeli Government knew that the new US Government "wasn't going to make Gaza the highest priority", Jamie Rubin said

Gaza peace deal that could have paved way for Palestinian state 'collapsed after Trump re-election’, ex-US diplomat says

Coopers School in Hawkwood Lane

Boy, 15, dies 'unexpectedly' after falling ill at school and being rushed to hospital

Donald Trump speaking today on Air Force One (main). Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy arriving in Turkey (top r). Russian depot Vladimir Putin (bottom r)

'No peace till I meet Putin' Trump speaks out after Russian tyrant snubbed Ukraine peace talks

The Met police have issued CCTV footage of two teenagers they want to speak to after two kittens were ‘tortured and killed’ in Ruislip.

CCTV footage of teenagers released as police appeal for information after two kittens ‘tortured and killed’

Popular 23-year-old Mexican TikTok influencer Valeria Marquez was fatally shot while livestreaming

Beauty influencer shot dead during TikTok livestream at salon in Mexico

Tom Cruise on the red carper at the Cannes Film Festival

When is the Mission Impossible premiere and what have the reviews said?

Ray Connolly (l) outside the Royal Courts of Justice and Lucy Connolly (r)

'Hopefully she'll be home within a week': Husband of childminder jailed for race hate tweet speaks after appeal hearing